Need to Rent an ECV for My Mom....Please Ease My Mind...

[bellenbuzz]

First visit to the DISabilities Forum...
I have read thru some information on renting wheelchairs or ECV's.

Our last trip to WDW was 5 years ago and we rented a wheelchair at the parks; it was hard having someone push her everywhere in the heat. Now she needs an ECV that she can keep with her from arrival to departure so she can control herself. She can walk with a cane, but painful and slow.

Sidenote: What does ECV stand for? I assume these are the ride-on scooters like you can use at a grocery store or something, correct?

I thought I read somewhere that one can be rented and delivered & picked-up at our resort. Staying at CBR. We are flying so can't bring one. There for 8 nights.

HONESTLY, please tell me the best and most reliable place to rent one from!!
Does doing it this way really work-out? Do you then park in your hotel room with you every night? (I assume yes)
What if we rent one and it breaks down? Will the battery last all day on these things?

I have no knowledge of ECVs so please help me reserve the right kind from the right place. Any tid-bits appreciated !!

 

[videogal1]

First visit to the DISabilities Forum...
I have read thru some information on renting wheelchairs or ECV's.

Our last trip to WDW was 5 years ago and we rented a wheelchair at the parks; it was hard having someone push her everywhere in the heat. Now she needs an ECV that she can keep with her from arrival to departure so she can control herself. She can walk with a cane, but painful and slow.

Sidenote: What does ECV stand for? I assume these are the ride-on scooters like you can use at a grocery store or something, correct?

I thought I read somewhere that one can be rented and delivered & picked-up at our resort. Staying at CBR. We are flying so can't bring one. There for 8 nights.

HONESTLY, please tell me the best and most reliable place to rent one from!!
Does doing it this way really work-out? Do you then park in your hotel room with you every night? (I assume yes)
What if we rent one and it breaks down? Will the battery last all day on these things?

I have no knowledge of ECVs so please help me reserve the right kind from the right place. Any tid-bits appreciated !!

Why can you not bring one if you are flying? If you have one already then bring it...It costs nothing to have the airline take it with your luggage. Read more info in the FAQs. Electric Convenience Vehicle, although some people refer to them as ECV, which makes no sense at all...

 

[bellenbuzz]

We don't have one already, so we would need to rent one.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including in Post #2 where people rent ECVs.

Note that the vendors listed there all have years of good results for disABILITIES members, so no one place is better (or worse) than any other. And it is Electric Convenience Vehicle.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[GrammyJudy]

I rented from Apple Scooters in Jan and was VERY happy with the service and the ECV I got. You take it in your room to charge at night but mine never ran low on power. It was waiting for me when we arrived off the ME bus. If you have a problem they will come and fix or replace it. All the bus drivers were great and helped me get it on the bus...I was worried about that. Plus we wer first on the bus. Some of the lines at the attrACTIONS are tricky to manuever but they are doable. I can walk but not long distance and I can't stand for long so ECV is a must for me.

 

[SueM in MN]

First visit to the DISabilities Forum...
I have read thru some information on renting wheelchairs or ECV's.

Our last trip to WDW was 5 years ago and we rented a wheelchair at the parks; it was hard having someone push her everywhere in the heat. Now she needs an ECV that she can keep with her from arrival to departure so she can control herself. She can walk with a cane, but painful and slow.

Sidenote: What does ECV stand for? I assume these are the ride-on scooters like you can use at a grocery store or something, correct?

As was already mentioned, ECV = Electric Convenience Vehicle, although a lot of people don’t like that name and call it Electric Conveyance Vehicle.

I thought I read somewhere that one can be rented and delivered & picked-up at our resort. Staying at CBR. We are flying so can't bring one. There for 8 nights.

Other posters already pointed you toward post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. All of the companies listed there will deliver ECVs to your resort and then pick it up when you are done using it.

If you owned one, you could bring it with you. I agree with you that it would not be good to rent one from your home area and bring it with you. The biggest problem would be what to do if a problem develops away from home.

HONESTLY, please tell me the best and most reliable place to rent one from!!

As was mentioned, the companies listed in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread are ones that DIS posters have recommended over the years.
I usually suggest people look at some of the companies and see which one they feel like they could work with. Some might have different product you like better or some have a different ‘personality’ that fits you better.

Does doing it this way really work-out? Do you then park in your hotel room with you every night? (I assume yes)

Most people park it in their room and plug it in every night.
Some people move small pieces of furniture - like a table or chair- to make room by an outlet.
If you really feel you are not able to fit it into the room, most resorts will store it for you at the front desk or in Bell Services. You would drop it off and then pick it up the next time you want to go out.

What if we rent one and it breaks down? Will the battery last all day on these things?

If it breaks down, you will have the phone number of the company - usually a decal right on the ECV. When you call, they will trouble shoot with you or even come to a park to pick it up.
Most people have no problems and their battery lasts all day.

I have no knowledge of ECVs so please help me reserve the right kind from the right place. Any tid-bits appreciated !!

Another hint - check out posts 18-22 on the second page of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. It has more information about actually getting on attractions with an ECV.

 

[bellenbuzz]

Much appreciated....
I will assure my Mom that it will all work out....

 

[MacFam4]

Our mom's sound just alike...we rented a wheel chair for our first visit, but the second visit we rented a scooter. Back then she could walk without a cane, but now she cannot. Our previous visit we rented from Scoot-A-Rama and were very pleased. We had no problems at all. However, this year we're going to rent from Apple Scooters. I like the idea that they are located on the corner of disney property. When I called to make the ressie, the guy told me that they typically keep a couple of people roaming around disney property, so if anyone needs assistance, someone can get there quickly.

Our last visit with my parents, we stayed at POR. She brought the scooter in the room with us and it didn't really take up too much room. We just rearranged the little area where the table and chairs are. We hung our backpack on the back of the scooter, so atleast we didn't have to carry it around This visit she'll have to somehow carry 2 canes with her on the scooter, because she can't walk without using 2 canes. Not sure yet how we'll work that one!

 

[peemagg]

This visit she'll have to somehow carry 2 canes with her on the scooter, because she can't walk without using 2 canes. Not sure yet how we'll work that one!

Use a couple of velcro straps and strap them parallel to the armrests of the scooter. You could also look online and buy a bag that is meant for crutches and canes and is just tied onto the back of the scooter. I think the cost around $30. It is just a fabric bag. Just do a search for mobility scooter accessories and you should be able to find it.

 

[Piper]

Your mother might want to look into forearm crutches. They will stay on her arms and have hinges so that you can use your hands to open a door, etc. This wouldn't help while she was on the scooter, but will be a big help when she is off of it!

 

[peemagg]

I agree with Piper that forearm crutches might be good for your Mom. I use them and found that they give me more stability than a cane does.